Why Meghan Markle Was Banned From Wearing Slippers On The Beach

Meghan Markle was photographed wearing black flat shoes when she and Prince Harry visited a beach in Melbourne.

Royal fans were quick to wonder why the Duchess of Sussex wasn’t allowed to wear flip-flops during her outing. William Hanson, an etiquette expert, told Harper’s Bazaar that royal family members are required to avoid certain types of footwear during their engagements.

“Open-toed shoes are considered informal footwear and inappropriate for formal occasions,” he said (via Daily Star).

According to People, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex went to the Melbourne beach for a quick cleanup, but they attire didn’t seem appropriate for the activity. They, later on, changed to more comfortable clothes when they visited Bondi Beach.

The royal couple was photographed walking on the sand by the water barefoot. Markle was also photographed in her chic striped Martin Grant maxi dress. Before going barefoot on the beach, Markle first arrived in a pair of Castaner espadrilles. Prince Harry, on the other hand, wore a blue long-sleeved polo and khaki pants.

They were greeted by Grant Trebilco and Sam Schumacher, the founders of OneWave, a colorfully-dressed local surfing community group focused on raising awareness for mental health and well-being in an engaging way.

After they were asked to remove their shoes, Markle was photographed leaning down the unstrap her footwear. He handed it to Prince Harry who had an easier time removing his shoes.

Prior to their arrival, some fans left gifts for the royal couple. Omid Scobie, a royal commentator, and contributor uploaded a photo of the presents that Prince Harry and Markle received.

Scobie’s attention was captured by the carrots that were given to the royal couple. The other gifts in the photo were a huge teddy bear, flowers, letters, and more. Two police personnel are also seen standing close to the gifts and watching over them.